In week one of our House Republican Majority, we brought a number of bills to the House Floor to counter the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party.

A huge win on our second day of voting was the overwhelming passage of H.Res. 11 to establish the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, which is commonly referred to as the “Select Committee on China.” The Select Committee is prepared to investigate China’s influence over our supply chain, COVID-19 origins, TikTok, China’s purchases of American farmland, deceptive trade practices, and much more. We know China poses threats to our national security, food security, and economic security.

On Thursday, we voted on a bill (H.R.22) to prohibit the Biden Administration from selling oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to China. President Biden’s decision to sell oil from our SPR amidst record-high gas prices and inflation has caused the SPR to be at the lowest level in fifty years. One of the recipients of our oil is the Chinese Communist Party, which now has the largest government-controlled oil reserve in the world. There’s no reason, no excuse, to be selling oil from our reserves to our adversaries. H.R. 22 is a great first step, but I believe we should take it one step further—prohibiting oil sales from our SPR to companies that are headquartered in countries such as Russia, Belarus, Burma, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela.

This Congress is off to a strong start in taking a stand against our adversaries. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Select Committee on China uncovers, getting some long-awaited answers, and action steps to protect America and our citizens from the threat of the Chinese Communist Party.

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On unanimous ballots, Marilyn Oakes was re-elected State GOP Secretary and Brett Koenecke was selected to return to the job of treasurer after Justin Bell assuming that role for the last decade.

In the race for Vice chair of the SDGOP, during the last speech, we all heard what a “collundrum” is, and thankfully, Mary Fitzgerald was elected as vice-chair for the SDGOP.

Fitzgerald was elected over Tammy Weis on a vote of 113 to 57.

State Senator John Wiik wins chairmanship of the South Dakota Republican Party on a vote of xxx 103 (correction) to 66 over Tom Brunner

The South Dakota Republican Party is currently tallying ballots for the chairman contest between State Senator John Wiik and Tom Brunner. 

An announcement on the race will be coming shortly.

This morning in the South Dakota Republican State central committee, the group rejected a proposed amendment to remove precinct committee people from participating in the state convention at this time.

Suprisingly, the group held off an any amendments to the precinct proposal, leaving the state’s republican party in the same position as it left the last convention, where concerns were raised over precinct people not representing the voters in their precincts, and not participating after convention.

This may drive further action by the state legislature, who is set to hear Senate Bill 40 in the near future, which is proposed to change how several statewide candidates are nominated for the November election by political parties.

The group did agree to consider further amendments at a later date, with several discussed at the meeting to be forwarded to the bylaws committee.

The SDGOP Winter central committee meeting is approaching quickly in the coming minutes, and it’s already proving lively.

City police had to pop by after being called by the Sgt at Arms to reinforce getting out of the way by some goofy guy with a camera. A bunch of people who have no voting rights at the meeting are carrying signs in the back hall for Tom Brunner.

A little more lively than some of the GOP meetings I’ve been to, but I suspect things will settle down as we get down to the meat of things.

Sad news tonight comes that former South Dakota state legislator Dick Kelly passed away today.

Kelly was first appointed to Senate, July 1, 2002, to fill vacancy of Kermit Staggers, and served through 2006.

Kelly was first elected to the Minnehaha County Commission in 2008, and served two terms. He was Sioux Falls Central District’s representative on the City Council from 1997 to 2002

Flags at Half-Staff at State Capitol Friday in Honor of Former Senator David Laustsen

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem ordered that flags be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol from sunrise until sunset on Saturday, January 14, in honor of former state Senator David Laustsen. He served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 1977-1984 and in the South Dakota State Senate from 1985-1987. 

Funeral services for former Sen. Laustsen will take place on Saturday, January 14, at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 241 East Butler Ave. in New Britain, PA. His interment will follow at Doylestown Cemetery.

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An organized phone spamming effort is being made in reference to the South Dakota Republican Party’s proposed bylaw changes. Myself and many others are receiving the following text messages on our cellphones:

It’s not really his phone number the messages are coming from, but one used by spam messages and prior candidates in the Rapid City area, including “Friends for Funke.”

I do wonder if they need a campaign disclaimer for this one, since obviously somebody is spending money on it.